2013 Skoda Citigo 1.0L Petrol · GL62 XTX

The defining mechanical story of this 2013 Škoda Citigo is a pattern of recurring brake and tyre concerns appearing across three consecutive test cycles, with the most recent examination on 13 July 2026 producing both a failure and a pass on the same date. The current test recorded a Major defect for a major exhaust gas leak from the central exhaust section, alongside advisories for both front tyres being worn close to the legal limit and on the edge. Looking at the wider record, this is the third straight year where brake or tyre issues have been flagged. In June 2025 the offside front brake disc was deemed significantly and obviously worn, with the offside front service brake excessively binding. The year before that, the nearside rear service brake was binding (though not excessively), and rear brake imbalance across axle two was recorded as a Major. The 2023 test noted a Dangerous nearside rear tyre with ply or cords exposed, alongside edge wear on all four tyres. This is not a record of isolated wear and tear; it shows a vehicle that has repeatedly presented brake system and tyre condition issues at annual test, and which has now additionally developed an exhaust integrity defect. Mileage for the vehicle stands at 101,644 miles over approximately 13 years, which equates to an average accumulation of roughly 7,800 miles per year. This is a broadly typical annual figure for a car of this age and class, neither exceptionally low nor unusually high, and the MOT entries show testing at fairly regular annual intervals with no prolonged gaps in the record. That regularity is useful, as it means each annual test has captured the vehicle's condition without long periods off the road that could mask deterioration. Mechanically, an annual mileage at this level on a small city-oriented petrol Citigo is consistent with regular mixed-use driving rather than long-term storage or sustained high-mileage motorway work, but the cumulative wear on consumable braking and tyre components still reflects a car that has covered well in excess of 100,000 miles in service. For a prospective buyer, the brake-related findings warrant particular attention. The 2024 Major for rear brake imbalance and binding, followed by the 2025 Major for an excessively binding offside front caliper and a worn offside front disc, suggests the brake system has been fighting recurring caliper or servo-side issues rather than simple pad wear. On inspection, the offside front caliper should be checked for free sliding on its guide pins, and a road test should include repeated moderate stops from around 30 mph to feel for any pulling, dragging, or judder through the steering. With the disc already flagged as worn, any pulsing through the brake pedal or warped feel under light braking would indicate it was not replaced and is now likely at or below minimum thickness. The rear binding issue from 2024 should be rechecked by safely raising the vehicle and confirming both rear wheels rotate freely by hand after the caliper has been released, as binding that was once advisory can progress to a Major as components wear further. The exhaust defect recorded on the most recent test is a separate and immediate concern, as a major leak at the central section will typically be located at a joint, clamp, or a corroded mid-pipe section common on vehicles of this age and mileage. The vehicle should be cold-started and listened to for any ticking, blowing, or popping from beneath the centre of the car, particularly at the joint between the manifold/downpipe and the rest of the system, and the underbody checked for soot deposits around joint flanges. Tyre wear on both front edges, flagged in 2023, 2025, and 2026, points to consistent front-end geometry or camber concerns, and a test drive over uneven surfaces should be used to listen for knocking from the front suspension bushes, top mounts, and anti-roll bar links, as these are common failure points on a high-mileage Citigo and would directly explain the edge wear pattern repeatedly observed.